We’re delighted to announce the winner of our $2500 Gold Medal Scholarship: Kevin Ayala.
Kevin is a first-generation student from Indio, California, and will be attending Pomona College this fall. He intends to pursue a career in Patent Law and has already begun educating himself by interning at a local law firm (just one of his three jobs!). Kevin is kind, responsible, and has an amazing work ethic. He stands out for his quiet leadership and consistent dedication to excellence and success – both his own and others.

We asked Kevin to share his story with you. You can read it here, or click below to see his video!

Kevin says:

I am truly thankful for this award because it will help me meet the challenges of college. My family moved to Indio when I was about five years old, as I am the son of two immigrants. Growing up here has helped me develop a strong love for my community. In addition, I have worked to serve others by helping with the youth group at my church.

I’ve had a few jobs over the years, and, in fact, I started working at 12 years old, at a flag football league called FNL. I’ve also worked at a Mexican food restaurant and at the Walter Clark Legal Group. My Senior year, I was working these three jobs at the same time, as well as studying to get my pilot’s license, keeping my grades up, and participating in clubs and activities at the school.

Needless to say, it’s been a busy time! In fact, I imagined staying this busy throughout my college years. I felt worried about managing one or two jobs while also handling a more demanding college curriculum. That’s why I’m so thankful to have received this scholarship. Not only will it allow me to purchase basic things like my books and supplies, but it will give me breathing room, so that I can focus on school and acclimating to my new environment without having to worry about getting a job immediately or working full time while trying to study.

Seeing that first email was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. Without having to worry about keeping all of those jobs in order to save up the money I needed, I’ve been able to stick with just one job, and pare it down to 40 hours a week. I’ve been able to spend more time with my family and friends, which is a welcome change before I move off to college. And I’m also very excited to say that I’ve gotten my student pilot license and have done my first solo flight!  I can now work even faster towards my private pilot license.

If you are a high school student, or know someone in high school, I highly recommend starting your Cirkled In profile now. This scholarship is a great way to help pay for college, and creating an account is very useful. It helps you get noticed by colleges and allows you to collect and showcase your high school achievements on Cirkled In. Building a portfolio can also simplify your college applications. This is a great starting point, especially if you do not have family members who are familiar with the college admissions process.

So take a chance, open your account, see what you can accomplish. You’ll never believe the places you can go!

We’re very excited to introduce you to this young man and honored to help him reach his dreams. Meet Kevin by clicking on this short video!